Unit 9, Part 2: Treatment of Psychological Disorders

Therapeutic Alliance

A relationship between therapist & client that includes:

-Active participation

-Reciprocated trust & confidence

-Genuine regard

-Cultural humility

Biomedical Therapies

Any form of treatment for mental disorders that attempts to alter physiological functioning (e.g. psychotropic drugs)

Psychotropic Drugs

Any drug that has significant effects on psychological processes

Deinstitutionalization

The process of moving people with developmental or psychiatric disabilities from structured institutional facilities to their home communities

Nonmaleficence

Ethical principle of avoiding harm to clients.

Cognitive Restructuring

Technique to change negative thought patterns.

Systematic Desensitization

Gradual exposure to anxiety-provoking stimuli.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy

A form of cognitive-behavioral treatment in which the focus is on getting people to accept who they are and develop skills to address areas of emotional and behavioral dysfunction.

Antidepressants

Medications used to treat depressive disorders and sometimes anxiety disorders. Targeted neurotransmitters: serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine.

Tardive Dyskinesia

A side effect of long-term use of traditional antipsychotic drugs causing the person to have uncontrollable facial tics, grimaces, and other involuntary muscle movements.

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)

A biomedical treatment for treatment-resistant depression in which a brief electric current is sent through the brain of an anesthetized patient

Token Economy

Behavioral modification system using rewards for desired behaviors. (e.g. earning a prize after demonstrating 5 desired behaviors in a row)

Group Therapy

Therapeutic sessions involving multiple clients simultaneously.

Psychotherapy

Any psychological service provided by a trained professional that mainly uses forms of communication to assess, diagnose, & treat dysfunctional emotional, cognitive, and behavioral patterns

Ethical Principles for Clinicians

Nonmaleficence - doing no harm

Fidelity - accountability / trust

Integrity - moral consistency & honesty

Respect for others' rights & dignity

Free association

in psychoanalysis, a method of exploring the unconscious in which the person relaxes and says whatever comes to mind, no matter how trivial or embarrassing

Dream interpretation

a technique used in psychoanalysis in which the content of dreams is analyzed for disguised or symbolic wishes, meanings, and motivations

Cognitive triad

The three forms of negative thinking that Aaron Beck theorizes lead people to feel depressed. The triad consists of a negative view of one's experiences, oneself, and the future.

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)

modern term for a form of behavior modification that uses shaping techniques to mold a desired behavior or response

Biofeedback

a system for electronically recording, amplifying, and feeding back information regarding a subtle physiological state, such as blood pressure or muscle tension

Exposure therapies

behavioral techniques, such as systematic desensitization, that treat anxieties by exposing people (in imagination or actuality) to the things they fear and avoid

Cognitive-behavioral therapies (CBT)

therapy approaches that seek to help clients change both counterproductive behaviors and dysfunctional ways of thinking

rational-emotive behavior therapy (REBT)

a confrontational cognitive therapy, developed by Albert Ellis, that vigorously challenges people's illogical, self-defeating attitudes and assumptions (more confrontational on the part of the therapist than traditional CBT)

person-centered therapy

therapy centering on the client's goals and ways of solving problems - based on the work of Carl Rogers

Hypnosis

A state of consciousness in which the person is especially susceptible to suggestion - has shown effectiveness in treating pain and anxiety. Research does NOT support its use for retrieving accurate memories or regressing in age.

antianxiety medications

Prescription drugs that are used to alleviate the symptoms of anxiety. Targeted neurotransmitters: serotonin, norepinephrine, GABA

Lithium (medication)

Used as a mood stabilizer, especially for individuals with Bipolar disorder. Targeted neurotransmitters: glutamate (decreasing/stabilizing activity) and GABA (increasing activity)

antipsychotic medications

Prescription drugs that are used to reduce psychotic symptoms; frequently used in the treatment of schizophrenia. Main targeted neurotransmitter: Dopamine

psychosurgery

brain surgery on human patients intended to relieve severe and otherwise intractable mental or behavioral problems